Hoop trundle



E. R. AQUINO HOOP TRUNDLE Oct. 30, 1962 Filed Oct. 51. 1960 EL i..

United States Patent 3,060,636 HOOP TRUNDLE Eugene Rocco Aquino, 1121 Pacific Ave., Lansing, Mich. Filed Oct. 31, 1960, Ser. No. 66,255 2 Claims. (Cl. 46-220) The present invention relates to a hoop trundle and more particularly to an improved hoop trundle having an increased range of usefulness and attractiveness to children. The present trundle incorporates substantially frictionless engagement with a hoop surface so that a variety of positions can be assumed by the trundle user without interfering with confined control over the rolling hoop.

Thus the present invention provides an openable and closable roller annulus secured to a simple handle which may be snapped over a hoop to provide guiding control over the hoop movement with a minimum amount of rolling friction. Both pushing and pulling control can be applied to the hoop by means of the trundle without the necessity of removing the trundle from engagement with the hoop. A variety of hoop sizes can be readily accommodated and the cross section size or shape of the hoop has little or no limiting eifect on the trundle performance.

In addition the trundle of the present invention utilizes a simple split ring thereby providing selective locking or unlocking engagement over a hoop section.

There is a long and well developed trundle art and it has progressed through the concept of ring closure as seen in United States Letters Patent 1,101,054 through a push-pull roller sequence as seen in United States Letters Patent 1,574,255. However, to the knowledge of the inventor, herein, the art has never proposed the simple use of a snap ring wherein the ring was provided with plural anti-friction roller elements there-around so that when the ring was closed an anti-friction annulus is provided engageable in all directions with the hoop surface independent of position of the handle which pivotally journals the ring.

Thus the present invention has as its principal object the provision of a simple anti-friction annulus pivotally supported at the end of a handle.

Another object is to provide a simple split ring for selectively opening and closing of the annulus over a hoop structure.

Still another object is to teach a simple, easily manufactured trundle for use with hoops of a wide variety of sizes which trundles can be sold at a price which is within reasonable purchasing reach of children.

Still another object is to extend the range of hoop play by introducing a new dimension of control in trundlehoop structures.

Other objects will be readily appreciated as the description proceeds.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the assembled hoop trundle indicating the handle supporting the ring member and the ring member supporting the plural roller elements.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the ring element and shows its open position in phantom line with stops adjacent the fastening closure.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective partial view of the handle and indicating the yoke element.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view and shows three forms of bead-like roller elements which are useable over the ring member.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective partial view illustrating the trundle in use with a hoop and showing phantom-line positioning of the handle which is possible in either imparting a forward or rearward motion to the hoop without removal of the trundle and without serious friction stoppage at the interphase between hoop and rollers.

tension of the yoke 13'. As will be appreciated the yoke 13 may be integrally formed with the handle 12 as by injection molding or the like or may be a separate member secured to the shank 18 of the handle 12. As will be appreciated the parallel arms 19 and 20 of the yoke 13 are provided with aligned transverse openings 21 and 22 therethrough. These openings 21 and 22 provide bearing supports for the ring 14 so that the ring 14 is pivotal about the axis formed by the openings 21 and 22 in the yoke 13. The rollers 15 are journalled on the ring 14 in spaced apart relation thereon, the spacing generally limited by the curvature of the ring 14. As is appreciated from 'the drawing at FIGURE 1 the rollers 15 thus form an annular ring of bearing members as set out by the ring 14.

With reference to FIGURE 2, the ring 14 is shown in greater detail. The ring 14 is split into a pair of hemispherical segments 23 and 24 on a hinge 25. A clasp arrangement, as for example the friction catch 26, wherein the ends 27 and 28 of the ring are matingly and frictionally joined, is provided. This allows the ring 14 to be opened and closed with a frictional or snap engagement. Keepers stops or snap rings 29 provide a stop barrier preventing the rollers 15 from falling from the ring 14 when the ring 14 is opened. The snap rings 29 clip into annular grooves 30 about the ring 14. Other keeper or stop means may of course be employed as for example pins and extended clasp shoulders or ring upsets well known in the art but the snap rings 29 are preferred since they allow for easy removal and replacement of rollers 15 where desired. The FIGURE 2 shows the device of the present invention in both the open and closed position.

In FIGURE 3 a modified yoke element 13 is shown on a handle 12 wherein the yoke element 13' is press fitted onto the shank portion 18'. The arms 21' and 22 are substantially as set forth in FIGURE 1 and as will be appreciated provide bearing support for a ring, not shown.

In FIGURE 4 three preferred forms of the rollers 15 are illustrated. The roller 30', substantially as the rollers 15, is a cylindrical form provided with the axial opening 31 therethrough. The roller 32 is spherical in form with a diametral opening 33 therethrough. The roller 34 is in the form of an oblate spheroid with an opening 35 therethrough along its principal axis. Each form of roller has certain operational advantages over the others and the oblate spheroidal form seems to perform as a compromise between the spherical and cylindrical forms, the central enlargement providing an enlarged wear surface about the middle. Ideal materials for the rollers are wooden beads fashioned substantially as indicated. The openings through the rollers are slightly larger than the diameter of the ring 14 so as to provide a free running fit. Plastic beads have also proved satisfactory and are more wear resistent although somewhat more expensive. Metals may also be used but are usually more expensive and generally unbalance the trundle 11 in performance.

FIGURE 5 shows the trundle 11 in use snapped onto a hoop 36. The annulus of rollers 15 on their ring 14 provides a loose confinement about the cross section of the hoop 36 so that the rotation of the hoop 36 is not interfered with while control over the hoop is easily maintained without reference to handle position. This is true in either the push or pull usage of the trundle 11 and without regard to the elevation control over the handle 12. The hoop 36 cannot escape control and the engagement as between hoop surface and roller annulus is substantially anti-friction in character and substantially independent of hoop cross section since the roller annulus work as well in contact with a flat or plane hoop surface as it does with a curvilinear surface.

As will be appreciated the ring 15 may be modified as by spring and sleeve closure arrangements and the like. The handle 12 may be made from a variety of materials such as wood, plastics, metals, and rubbers or combinations of these. This is also true of the yoke link 13 which is amenable to varied fabrication methods and materials.

Having thus described my invention by illustration and reference to an operative embodiment thereof other modifications and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art and such modifications and improvements are intended to be included herein limited only by the scope of the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hoop trundle comprising a handle; a connector yoke extending from one end of said handle; a pair of half rings pivotal in relation to each other and extending through said yoke in journalled relation; a ring fastener connecting said ring halves to selectively form a complete ring; a pair of stops, one on either side of said fastener; and a plurality of roller elements journalled on said ring and together forming an open annulus for bearing engagement.

2. A hoop trundle comprising: a handle; a connector yoke extending from one end of said handle and being pierced; a pair of half rings pivotal in relation to each other and extending through said pierced portion of said yoke in journalled relation; 9. ring fastener connecting said ring halves to selectively form a complete ring supported by said yoke and limitedly pivotal in relation thereto; a pair of stops on either side of said fastener; and a plurality of roller elements journalled on said ring and together forming an open annulus for bearing engagement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,966,761 Gunset Ian. 3, 1961 

